Coming Out of the Penumbras World Culture and Cross-National Variation in Divorce Rates

• Published in: Social forces Vol. 97; no. 2; pp. 675 - 704
• Main Authors: Wang, Cheng-Tong Lir, Schofer, Evan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Analysis; Cross cultural studies; Cultural factors; Cultural Influences; Culture; Divorce; Equality; Families & family life; Family relations; Gender inequality; GLOBALIZATION; Human rights; Idealism; Individualism; Marriage; Social aspects; Social norms; Society; Treaties; World culture
• ISSN: 0037-7732; 1534-7605
• DOI: 10.1093/sf/soy070

This paper extends the comparative literature on divorce by theorizing how international institutions and norms influence societal divorce rates. Drawing on developmental idealism and world society theory, the paper argues that global institutions legitimize cultural principles such as individualism...